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The Timken Company Reports Strong First Quarter Results

CANTON, Ohio, April 27 -- The Timken Company today reported record first quarter sales of $1.35 billion, up 3 percent from the same period a year ago. First quarter net income increased 13 percent to $65.9 million, or $0.70 per diluted share, from $58.2 million, or $0.63 per diluted share, in the first quarter a year ago.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19991012/TKRLOGO)

Excluding special items, earnings per diluted share increased 11 percent to $0.71 from $0.64 in last year's first quarter. Special items in the first quarter included manufacturing restructuring and rationalization charges that totaled $4.8 million of pretax expense, compared to $1.1 million in the same period a year ago.

"Our strong first quarter results reflect the ongoing strength of industrial markets and the performance of our steel business," said James W. Griffith, president and chief executive officer. "We are focused on accelerating profitable growth in industrial markets while repositioning our automotive portfolio to improve its earnings power."

  During the quarter, the company:
   - Set production and shipment records in the Steel Group;
   - Continued major capacity expansions for industrial products at several
     plant locations around the world; and
   - Made further progress relating to Automotive Group restructuring
     actions and manufacturing performance improvement.

Total debt at March 31, 2006 was $768.5 million, or 32.8 percent of capital. Debt was higher than the 2005 year-end level of $721.0 million due to seasonal working capital requirements. Net debt at March 31, 2006 was $737.2 million, or 31.9 percent of capital. The company expects to end the year with lower net debt and leverage than last year.

Industrial Group Results

The Industrial Group had first quarter sales of $503.9 million, up 7 percent from $468.8 million for the same period last year. Industrial end markets showed broad strength, with the highest growth in the aerospace, distribution and heavy industry sectors.

The Industrial Group's earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of $45.9 million were down 2 percent from $47.0 million in the first quarter of 2005. EBIT performance was negatively affected by higher manufacturing costs due to the ramp up of capacity additions and higher raw material and energy costs. While operating margins in the first quarter were lower than the same period a year ago, the company expects Industrial Group margins for the full year to improve over last year's levels.

Automotive Group Results

The Automotive Group's first quarter sales of $421.0 million were flat compared to the same period a year ago. Improved pricing was offset by lower volume due to decreased North American light truck production.

The Automotive Group recorded a first quarter loss of $3.1 million compared to a loss of $5.1 million for the same period a year ago. The first quarter of 2006 was negatively impacted by a $3.5 million increase in the company's accounts receivable reserve for automotive industry credit exposure. The Automotive Group's results benefited from improved pricing and manufacturing performance. The company expects improved Automotive Group performance throughout the rest of the year.

Steel Group Results

Steel Group sales of $468.2 million were up slightly from record sales in the first quarter a year ago. Increased pricing and higher demand in aerospace, service center and energy markets were mostly offset by lower automotive sales. First quarter EBIT was a record $71.1 million, up 12 percent from $63.7 million for the same period last year. Price increases, improved sales mix and increased manufacturing productivity accounted for the strong performance. The company expects the Steel Group profitability for the year to approach last year's record performance.

Outlook

The company, which recently increased 2006 earnings estimates, expects continued strength in industrial markets, particularly in aerospace, energy, mining and rail. Margin improvement is expected in the Automotive and Industrial Groups, and Steel Group margin performance should approach last year's record levels. Earnings per diluted share, excluding special items, are estimated to be $0.75 to $0.80 for the second quarter. The company recently increased its 2006 earnings estimate to $2.80 to $2.95 per diluted share, excluding special items.

Conference Call Information

The company will host a conference call for investors and analysts today to discuss financial results.

   Conference Call:       Thursday, April 27, 2006
                          11 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time

   Live Dial-In:          706-634-0975
                          (Call in 10 minutes prior to be included)
                          Replay Dial-In through May 4, 2006:
                          706-645-9291
                          Conference ID:  #5676501

   Live Web cast:         www.timken.com/investors

  About The Timken Company

The Timken Company (http://www.timken.com/) keeps the world turning with innovative ways to make customers' products run smoother, faster and more efficiently. Timken's highly engineered bearings, alloy steels and related products and services turn up everywhere. With operations in 27 countries, sales of $5.2 billion in 2005 and 27,000 employees, Timken is Where You Turn(TM) for better performance.

  CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME
                                   AS REPORTED             ADJUSTED (1)

  (Thousands of U.S. dollars,
   except share data)
   (Unaudited)                  1Q 06       1Q 05       1Q 06       1Q 05

  Net sales                  $1,347,080  $1,304,540  $1,347,080  $1,304,540
  Cost of products sold       1,056,658   1,031,566   1,056,658   1,031,566
  Manufacturing
   rationalization/Reorgani-
   zation expenses - cost of
   products sold                  3,036       1,124           -           -
      Gross Profit             $287,386    $271,850    $290,422    $272,974
  Selling, administrative &
   general expenses (SG&A)      173,875     163,630     173,875     163,630
  Manufacturing
   rationalization/Reorgani-
   zation expenses - SG&A           377         409           -           -
  Impairment and
   restructuring                  1,040           -           -           -
      Operating Income         $112,094    $107,811    $116,547    $109,344
  Other expense                  (4,771)     (5,146)     (4,771)     (5,146)
  Special items - other
   (expense) income                (308)        386           -           -
      Earnings Before
       Interest and Taxes
       (EBIT)(2)               $107,015    $103,051    $111,776    $104,198
  Interest expense, net         (11,602)    (12,102)    (11,602)    (12,102)

      Income Before Income
       Taxes                    $95,413     $90,949    $100,174     $92,096
  Provision for income taxes     29,473      32,714      33,158      33,155
      Net Income                $65,940     $58,235     $67,016     $58,941

     Earnings Per Share           $0.71       $0.64       $0.72       $0.65

     Earnings Per Share-
      assuming dilution           $0.70       $0.63       $0.71       $0.64

  Average Shares Outstanding 92,942,082  90,804,936  92,942,082  90,804,936
  Average Shares
   Outstanding-assuming
   dilution                  94,010,483  91,871,363  94,010,483  91,871,363

  (1) "Adjusted" statements exclude the impact of impairment and
      restructuring, manufacturing rationalization/reorganization and
      special charges and credits for all periods shown.

  BUSINESS SEGMENTS

  (Thousands of U.S. dollars) (Unaudited)                 1Q 06     1Q 05
  Industrial Group
  Net sales to external customers                        $503,444  $468,449
  Intersegment sales                                          435       398
  Total net sales                                        $503,879  $468,847
  Adjusted earnings before interest
   and taxes (EBIT) * (2)                                 $45,885   $46,999
  Adjusted EBIT Margin (2)                                   9.1%     10.0%

  Automotive Group
  Net sales to external customers                        $420,984  $420,265
  Adjusted (loss) earnings before
   interest and taxes (EBIT) * (2)                        ($3,141)  ($5,100)
  Adjusted EBIT (Loss) Margin (2)                           -0.7%     -1.2%

  Steel Group
  Net sales to external customers                        $422,652  $415,826
  Intersegment sales                                       45,530    51,605
  Total net sales                                        $468,182  $467,431
  Adjusted earnings before interest
   and taxes (EBIT) * (2)                                 $71,136   $63,725
  Adjusted EBIT Margin (2)                                  15.2%     13.6%

   *Industrial Group, Automotive Group and Steel Group EBIT do not equal
   Consolidated EBIT due to intersegment adjustments which are eliminated
   upon consolidation.

   (2)  EBIT is defined as operating income plus other income (expense).
   EBIT Margin is EBIT as a percentage of net sales.  EBIT and EBIT margin
   on a segment basis exclude certain special items set forth above.  EBIT
   and EBIT Margin are important financial measures used in the management
   of the business, including decisions concerning the allocation of
   resources and assessment of performance. Management believes that
   reporting EBIT and EBIT Margin best reflect the performance of our
   business segments and EBIT disclosures are responsive to investors.

  Reconciliation of Total Debt to Net Debt and the Ratio of Net Debt to
   Capital:
  (Thousands of U.S. Dollars)
  (Unaudited)                               Mar 31, 2006      Dec 31, 2005
  Short-term debt                               $208,237          $159,279
  Long-term debt                                 560,286           561,747
    Total Debt                                   768,523           721,026
  Less:  cash and cash equivalents               (31,285)          (65,417)
    Net Debt                                    $737,238          $655,609

  Shareholders' equity                         1,572,222         1,497,067

  Ratio of Total Debt to Capital                   32.8%             32.5%
  Ratio of Net Debt to Capital (Leverage)          31.9%             30.5%

   This reconciliation is provided as additional relevant information about
   Timken's financial position.  Capital is defined as debt plus
   shareholder's equity. Management believes Net Debt is more representative
   of Timken's indicative financial position, due to the amount of cash and
   cash equivalents.

   Reconciliation of GAAP net income and EPS - Basic and Diluted as
   previously disclosed.
   This reconciliation is provided as additional relevant information about
   the company's performance.  Management believes adjusted net income and
   adjusted earnings per share are more representative of the company's
   performance and therefore useful to investors.  Management also believes
   that it is appropriate to compare GAAP net income to adjusted net income
   in light of special items related to impairment and restructuring and
   manufacturing rationalization/reorganization costs, Continued Dumping
   and Subsidy Offset Act (CDSOA) receipts, and gain on the sale of
   non-strategic assets.

                                            First Quarter     First Quarter
                                                 06                 05
  (Thousands of U.S. dollars, except
   share data) (Unaudited)                  $       EPS       $        EPS
                                                 assuming           assuming
                                                 dilution           dilution

  Net income                             $65,940    $0.70   $58,235   $0.63

  Pre-tax special items:

  Manufacturing
   rationalization/reorganization
   expenses - cost of products sold        3,036     0.03     1,124    0.01
  Manufacturing
   rationalization/reorganization
   expenses - SG&A                           377      -         409     -
  Impairment and restructuring             1,040     0.01         -     -
  Special items - other expense
   (income):                                 308      -        (386)    -
  Provision for income taxes              (3,685)  ($0.03)     (441)  $0.00

  Adjusted net income                    $67,016    $0.71   $58,941   $0.64

   Reconciliation of Outlook Information -
   Expected earnings per diluted share for the second quarter and the
   full year exclude special items.  Examples of such special items include
   impairment and restructuring, manufacturing rationalization/
   reorganization expenses, gain on the sale of non-strategic assets, and
   payments under the CDSOA.  It is not possible at this time to identify
   the potential amount or significance of these special items. We cannot
   predict whether we will receive any additional payments under the CDSOA
   in 2006 and if so, in what amount.  If we do receive any additional CDSOA
   payments, they will most likely be received in the fourth quarter.

  CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET                     Mar 31            Dec 31
  (Thousands of U.S. dollars) (Unaudited)         2006              2005
  ASSETS
  Cash & cash equivalents                        $31,285           $65,417
  Accounts receivable                            784,920           711,783
  Inventories                                  1,045,580           998,368
  Deferred income taxes                          108,649           104,978
  Other current assets                           113,317           102,763
      Total Current Assets                    $2,083,751        $1,983,309
  Property, plant & equipment                  1,535,583         1,547,044
  Goodwill                                       204,892           204,129
  Other assets                                   259,585           259,252
      Total Assets                            $4,083,811        $3,993,734

  LIABILITIES
  Accounts payable & other liabilities          $524,228          $500,939
  Short-term debt                                208,237           159,279
  Income Taxes                                    52,063            38,993
  Accrued expenses                               313,373           375,264
      Total Current Liabilities               $1,097,901        $1,074,475
  Long-term debt                                 560,286           561,747
  Accrued pension cost                           236,481           246,692
  Accrued postretirement benefits cost           518,047           513,771
  Other non-current liabilities                   98,874            99,982
      Total Liabilities                       $2,511,589        $2,496,667

  SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY                         1,572,222         1,497,067
      Total Liabilities and
       Shareholders' Equity                   $4,083,811        $3,993,734

  CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
                                                For the three months ended
                                                 Mar 31            Mar 31
  (Thousands of U.S. dollars) (Unaudited)         2006              2005
  Cash Provided (Used)
  OPERATING ACTIVITIES
  Net Income                                     $65,940           $58,235
  Adjustments to reconcile net income
   to net cash provided (used)
   by operating activities:
    Depreciation and amortization                 51,601           $54,100
    Other                                          3,632             ($273)
    Changes in operating assets and
     liabilities:
      Accounts receivable                        (70,316)         ($82,242)
      Inventories                                (37,855)         ($75,771)
      Other assets                                   314          ($11,870)
      Accounts payable and accrued expenses      (43,891)          $34,898
      Foreign currency translation
       (gain) loss                                (6,101)            3,204
       Net Cash Provided (Used) by
        Operating Activities                    ($36,676)         ($19,719)

  INVESTING ACTIVITIES
    Capital expenditures                        ($41,073)         ($32,363)
    Other                                          1,188              $288
    Acquisitions                                       -            (6,556)
       Net Cash Used by Investing Activities    ($39,885)         ($38,631)

  FINANCING ACTIVITIES
    Cash dividends paid to shareholders         ($14,026)         ($13,686)
    Net proceeds from common share activity        6,132           $10,075
    Net (payments) borrowings on credit
     facilities                                   49,175            65,462
       Net Cash (Used) Provided by
        Financing Activities                     $41,281           $61,851

  Effect of exchange rate changes on cash         $1,148           ($2,700)

  Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash
   Equivalents                                   (34,132)              801
  Cash and Cash Equivalents at
   Beginning of Period                           $65,417           $50,967

  Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period     $31,285           $51,768